Pull socket



March 10, 1931. J MOREY 1,795,375

PULL SOCKET Filed Aug. 30, 1926 Quoting Patented Mar. 10, 1931 HARRY J. MOREY, or SYRACUSE; NEW YORK,

' or soLvAY, NEW YORK, ACORIORA'IJON assrenoa TO PASS asEYMoUR, INCL,

or NEW YORK ULL SOCKET Application filed August 30,1926. Serial no. 132,617.

This invention relates toelectric switches and more particularly to that type of switch commonly known as a. snap switch.

It a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved form ol' snap switch.

More particularly it is an -object of-this invention to provide, in a snap switch, a stationary contact, and a movable contact adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the stationary contact, and means for imparting a snap movement to the movable contact, said means including a driving member adapted to be rotated in any desired manner, a resilient connection between the driving member and the movable contact, saidcontact adapted to be engaged and held when in engagement with the stationary contact and when out of engagement therewith, there being'means on the driving member to release such hold when the resilient driving means is tensioned. A further object of the present invention consists in the provision of a rotatable contact or bridging member for use in a snap switch, said member being disc-like in form, having projecting contact portions, a center bearing portion and a bent-up portion adapted to be engaged by a suitable member to release the bridging member in order that it maybe rotated. I

Other and further objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing,

wherein are disclosed two exemplary embodiments of the invention, with the understanding, however, that various and sundry changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the attached claims.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical, central section 5 througha snap switch of the present invention. as applied to a pull chain socket, the view being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Figure 2 is a. horizontal or transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

5) Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view;

and the like, must have a resort to the use of Figure 4 isa view similar to Fig.2 but showing a modified form'of the invention;

Figure 5 is a section online 5-5 of Fig. l

with certain of the operating elements removed; and

V Figure 6 is a plan view of the movable contact or bridging member used with this modified form or the invention.

' Electric switches which are subjectto much usage, and particularly those adapted to be applied to electric lighting fixture sockets able contact t'oprovide what may be termed a snap, particularly when the circuit is broken, to prevent destructive arcing as the contacts move apart. The life of the average switch is materially reduced by such arcing and the amount of current which can be broken by a small switch is largely dependent upon the speed of the break. It is likewise desirable that the switch-controlled circuit be made rapidly and thepresent switch provides what may betermed a two-way snap? action,

i. e. a snap tomake and a snap to break the circuit. Not only must the snap be sudden,but for the larger currents the movement 1 of the movable contact member must be such as to carry it such a distance from the stationary contact member so that the spark cannot follow it, in otherwords, there must be a. longbreak. Heretofore resort has been made to various methods ofobtaining a long and a quick break. Most of these methods a number of additional parts in order that tension may be applied to the movable contact member long before it is released so that upon the release the.

quick, long break happens. Various auxiliary mechanism must be supplied to hold'the contact stationary while it is being put under tension. For this purpose cams, latches and various release mechanisms are used. In the present invention a large number of these additonal parts are eliminated and the construction materially simplified.

' The invention is disclosed in connection with a pull chain type of lamp'socket, al-

though'it is evident that it may be readily ap- 4 plied to-other types of snap switches such as thepush buttonand turn button types with quick acting movonly obvious changes in several of the parts.

Referring to the drawing, there is disclosed at the bottom insulating button of an electric socket and mounted on this button is the screw shell 11 adapted to receive the lampbase. A center contact 12 is also provided 011 this insulation button. The top or outer insulation button 13 is spaced from the button 10 to provide a compartment for the reception of the switch and its operating mechanism. The two insulating buttons are suitably secured together and spaced apart.

by the terminal plate 1 and the spacer '15 which is shaped to receive the base plate of the bell-mouthed chain guide 16.

The inner face 17 of the lower insulation button is substantially plane. Recessedinto this face are the parts 14 and 15 which are secured thereto bysuitable screws, the one 18 serving to connect the terminal 14 to the screw shell 11 and to serve to retain these two parts in position. A second terminal 19 projects upwardly from the surface 17 and has its angular end 20 recessed therein. Opposite the end 20 is recessed a plate of conducting material 21 secured in position and connected to the center contact 12 by a suitable connection, such as the hollow r-ivet 22 which forms the electrical connection and secures the two parts in position.

A central recess 24 is provided in the face 17 and to the edge of this recess extend the parts 20 and 21 where they are slightly turned up to form stationary contact surfaces on their up-turned ends 25 and 26. These up turned ends are slightly below the surface 17. but portions of them 27, 28 respectively, extend up to the surface 17 forming the shoulders 29 and 30. the purpose of which will be later described. Spaced 90 from the diametrically opposed stationary contacts are the recesses or notches 31 and .32 in the insulati on but-ton, having a depth equivalent to the distance of the ends 25 and 26 below the sur taco 17. These notches form shoulders 33 and 34-.

To connect the stationary contacts 20 and 21 in order to bridge the gap existing between the terminal contact 19 and the center contact of the socket, a. bridging member or movable contact piece. generally indicated by 35, is used. This piece may best be seen in Fig. 3. It may be briefly described a disc having a diameter somewhat less than that of the recess 24 in insulation button 10. Projecting from this disc and substantially radially thereof is the bridging or contact terminal Diametrically opposite this terminal is the bridging or contact terminal 37. The distance across these terminals is such that when thedise is positioned centrally ot the recess 24 they may fit on the surta oes and 26 or in the notches 31 and 3s. The edge 38 of the terminal 36 is adapted to engage successively with theshoulders 30, 34, 29 and as the disc is partially rotated in succession by 90 steps. Extending countercloclnvise from the terminal 37, as viewed in Fig. 3, is the bentup Wing 39, the purpose of which will be later described. The center of the disc is provided with acircular hole 10. The por tion 42 of the disc between the junction of the wing 39 with the terminal 37 and the edge ll of the terminal 36, is bent up out of the plane of the disc at an angle of substantially A segment 43 ot'the disc i s cut a and two tabs are bent up at right angles to the plane of the disc adjacent thissegment. The one 44 is a spring abutment and the one -15 forms a stop for the driving member to be later described.

The bridging disc is adapted to be rotated by means ot' a suitable driving member. This member 46 provided with a cylindrical spindle 47, the lower end of which is adapted:

to pass through the hole 40 in the bridging member and be ourna'led 1n the hole 48 in the insulation button 10. The upper end of the spindle is adapted to be received in the tnbular extension 49 on the adjusting member- 50 which has a square head seated in a correspondingly shaped recess in the insulation button 13. A small round hole 52 through the button above the head provides a shoulder to stop outward movement of the EtCljUSillHg member under the action of a spring to be later describech and permits the insertion of a screw driver to engage with a slot in the adjusting member to suitably tension the spring. Between the adjusting member and the bottom insulating button the driving member 46 is loosely journaled for rotation. It is provided with a transverse bar or member 53 at right angles to the spindle and extei-idingsubstantially equal distances on either side thereof. This bar is square in cross-section. One end of the same is provided with the depending releasing arm 51 extending parallel to the spindle and some distance below the bar 53. A spring iiorms a resilient driving connection between the driving member 46 and the disc This spring is iim'me'd of wire having a straight shank 'end 56, several complete turns forming an eye 57 adapted to pass over the lower end of the spindle 47, and a hooked end 58 extending substantially diametrically opposite the end 56 when the spring is free. The hooked end 58 is adapted to engage over the spring abutment 4% on the contact disc in the position best shown in big. 2 with the shank end 56 behind the depending releasing arm 54 on the driving member. so that when the driving member is rotated in a counterclockwise di rection, as viewed in Fig. sioned and tends to rotate the contact disc with it.

' Such movement of the contact disc is normally prevented by the engagement of the edge 38 ot the terminal member 36 with one 2, the spring is ten-' of the shoulders 29, 30, 33, 34 so that the spring is merely tensioned as the driving member is rotated. However, when the driving member has been rotated throughoutan angle of about the releasing lug 54 begins to engage the sloping surface of the elevated portion 42 of the contact disc and in so doing depresses this portion and tilts the disc about the edge 41 and the junction of the wing portion 39 and the terminal 37. These parts being supported either on the stationary contacts or on the bases of the notches 31 and 32, causethe edge 38 to be lifted so that about the time when the driving member has been rotated through an angle of 90 and has given the spring 55 its maximum tension, the edge 88'is lifted from engagement with one of the aforementioned shoulders and the spring drives the disc in a counterclockwise direction, causing it to rapidly leave engagement with, for instance, the stationary contacts if it has been so initially positioned.

As the disc moves forward, its bent-up portion moves out from beneath the releasing lug 54 and it returns to its normal position with the plane of the disc parallel to the surface 17 so that at the end of its 90 rotation it drops into the next set of notches with the edge 38 against one of the shoulders and stops in this position 90 from its previous one.

The spring 55 and I particularly the coils 57 thereof tends always to push the disc down so that it will always engage with the shoulders. Furthermore, the driving memher is always pressed with the releasing memher in engagement with the disc by the spring 59 surrounding the tubular portion of the .adjusting member previously described.

From the above, it will be seen that for each 90 rotation of the driving member a correspondingrotation will be imparted to the bridging member under the action of the resilient driving connection or spring so that a rapid movement of the bridging memher from its initial position to its final position ensues and a snap make or break takes place. The bent-up wing portion 39 on the contact terminal 37 serves to prevent this contact terminal from being more tightly pressed into engagement with one of the shoulders when the disc is tilted and the under surface of the wing portion serves as an inclined plane to help the disc to lift itself out of the notch in the button or contact under the aci tion or" its driving spring.

Journaled on the spindle 47 above the transverse arm 53 15 the chain quadrant 60 here shown as being formed of insulating material and having along'its edge the channel 61 in which the chain 61 is adapted to '16. The chain is adapted when pulled toimpart a substantially 90 movement to the 'lVhen the chain quadrant is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the driving memberchain quadrant 60. Such movement is opposed by the spring 59 coiled around the tubnof the adjusting member 50 to assume a sufii- 1 cient. tension to oppose the counterclockwise rotation of the chain quadrant and to return it to its initial position with the edge 67 thereof stopped against the terminal plate 14.

The metal center of the chain quadrant is secured beneath the insulation portion and is stamped into the form of a ratchet having four teeth 66, the driving faces of which are directed in a counterclockwise direction. Under the action of the spring 59 these teeth are forceddown on top of the transverse bar 53 ofthe driving member 46, and one or two of the teeth engage with the sides of this bar.

is caused to move therewith. It will thus be seen that a pull on the chain will rotate the chain quadrant throughout an angle of against the action of its spring 59. The ratchet connection between the chain quadrant and the driving member will cause the driving member to be rotated 90 in a counterclockwise direction. The rotation of the driving member will tension spring 55and' near the end of its rotation will release the bridging member fromengagement with one of the retaining shoulders so that it will be in turn rotated throughout an angle of 90, changing the switch condition from off to on, or vice versa. Upon release of the chain the bridging member remains stationary-by the engagement of the edge 41 of the contact terminal 36 with the rear shoulder in one of the notches or on one of the contacts. The spring 55 retains the driving member with its releasing lug 54 against the stop lug 45 so that it assumes and holds a position 90 from .its initial position. The return spring 59 returns the chain quadrant to its initial position so that the second set of teeth on its ratchet engage with the bar on the driving memberready for the next operation.

It will be seen that the fundamental principle of tilting the contact or bridging disc to' cause it to be released from its holding means after the spring has been tensioned, enables this one member to perform the function heretofore performed by a plurality of members, and thus simplifies the constructiom reduces its size and the cost of its manufacture, while at the same time imparting a, desirable snap to the bridging member both on the make and the break.

The construction may be somewhat simplifled by the modification disclosed in Figs. 4, and 6. The fundamental operating means are all the same as in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The stationary contacts 21 and however, have their turned up ends 25 and 26 flat and respectively in the same plane as the surface 17 of the insulating button 10. In the bottom of the recess 24 are provided four ratchet teeth 102, one opposite each contact and one on either side between the contacts. The stop shoulders of these ratchet teeth face in a clockwise direction. The teeth may be moulded. in the material of the button "if desired.

The bridging disc is provided with the terminal contacts 37 and 38 as in the previous form, but the bent-up wing portion 39 is omitted. The stop lug and the spring abutment n function as previously described and the bent-up portion 42 is also present. Between the stop lug and the spring abutment and substantially 90 from the terminal contacts is the ratchet engaging pawl 100, slightly bent down to be engaged with the shoulders 101 of the ratchet teeth 102 in the bottom of the recess 24. This pawl is of such a radius that it will fit within the walls of the recess 24 whereas the terminal contacts 27 and 28 he out beyond the recess and ride on the surface 17.

This form of switch operates in exactly the manner described in connection with the previous form, the depressing of the bent-up portion 42 of the disc by the release lug of the driving member serving to tilt the disc about the terminal contacts whether they be resting on the stationary contacts or between them, and in so doing lifting the pawl 100 out of engagement with the ratchet tooth shoulder 101 and allowing a 90 rotation of the bridging member under the action of its driving spring. Allof the other parts in this modification are identical with those previously described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be SGCl-IKG( by Letters Patent is:

1. In a snap switch, in con'lbination, a pair of spaced stationary contacts, a bridging member pivoted between said contacts and adapted to be rotated into and out of engagement therewith, ratchet means to hold said bridging member in engagement with said contacts and means to tilt said bridging member to release said ratchet means.

2. Ina snap switch, in. combination, r pair of spaced stationary contacts, a bridging member pivoted between said contacts and adapted to be rotated into and out of engagement therewith, means to rotate said member, means engageable by said member to stop the same in engagement with said contacts, and means to tilt said bridging member to release the same for movement away from said contacts.

'3. In a snap switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a movable contact pivoted for movement into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, spring means to rotate said movable contact, means'engageable by said movable contact to stop the same in engagement with said stationary contact and means to tilt said movable contact to release the same from said stop means whereby said contact may be rotated by said spring means out of engagement with the stationary contact.

4:. In a snap switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a contact pivoted for move; ment into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a manually rotatable member, a resilient driving connection between said mcmber and said pivoted contact, means engage-able by said pivoted contact to stop the same in engagement with said stationary contact, said manually rotatable member being adapted to raise said pivoted contact out of engagement with said means whereby said resilient driving connection will rotate itout of engagement with said stationary contact.

5. In a snap switch, in combination, an insulation button, a stationary contact on one surface thereof, a movable contact adapted to be rotated over and along said surface into and out of contact with said stationary contact, a. manually rotatable member pivoted concentric to said movable contact, a resilient driving connection between said member and said movable contact, stop means on said button engageable by said movable contact to hold the same in either of the above mentioned positions, and means on said rotatable member to release said movable contact from said stop means when said resilient driving connection is tensioned, to cause a snap movement of said contact.

(5. In a snap switch, in combination, an insulation button, a stationary contact on one surface thereof, a movable contact adapted to be rotated over said surface into and out of contact with said stationary contact, a nnnnially rotatable member pivoted concentric to said movable contact, a resilient driving connection between said member and said movable contact, stop means engageable by said movable contact to hold the same in either of the above mentioned positions, and means on said rotatable member to tilt said movable contact to cause it to be released from said stop means when said resilient driving connection is tensioned, to cause a snap movement of said contact from one of said mentioned positions to the other.

7. In a snap switch, in combination, an insulation button, a stationary contact on one surface thereof, a movable contact adapted to be rotated over said surface into and out of contact with said stationary contact, a manually rotatable member pivoted concentrie to said movable contact, a resilient driving connection between said member and said movable contact, stop means engageable by said movable contact to hold the same in either of the above mentioned positions, means on, said rotatable member to release said movable contact from said stop means when said resilient driving connection is tensioned to cause a snap movement of said contact, and means on said movable contact to cooperate with said rotatable member to maintain the rotatable member in proper relation to the contact when the resilient driving connection is not tensioned 8. In a snap switch, in combination, an in sulation button, a stationary contact mounted thereon, a movable contact adapted to be rotated into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a manually rotatable member having an extension passing thru and forming the pivot for said movable contact, a spring engaging said rotatable member and said movable contact and passing around said extension, stop shoulders asso ciated with said insulation button to engage, stop and hold said movable contact in each of its above mentioned positions, means on said rotatable member adapted to engage said movable contact only when said spring is tensioned and to release the same from any stop shoulder whereby said spring may drive said contact to its next position as determined by the next stop shoulder.

9. In a snap switch, in combination, an insulation button, a stationary contact mounted thereon, a movable contact member adapted to be rotated into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, a driving member adapted to be rotated'by suitable means, a resilient driving connection between said driving member and movable contact member, stop shoulders adapted to engage, stop and hold said movable contact member, a portion of said movable contact member remote from the portion thereof engaged by said stop shoulders being bent up toward said driving member, and means on said-driving member to engage said bent portion and lift the shoulder engaging portion out of engagement with said shoulder when said resilient driving connection is tensioned whereby said movable contact member will snap to its next position.

10. A movable contact member for a snap switch comprising a unitary sheet of conducting material having a projection adapted to engage a stop shoulder, a bearing in said member, a portion of said member being slightlybent out of the plane of said member and release means for engagement with said slightly bent portion for tilting the said member.

11. A movable contact member for a snap switch comprising a sheet of conducting material having a central aperture, a projection on said sheet adaptedto engage a stop shoulder, a portion of said sheet being bent out of the plane thereof less than ninety degrees, said bend being on a line substantially parallel to a radiusthru said projection.

12. 1111 a snapswitch, in combination, a pair: of spacediinsulation buttons, :1 pair of spaced stationary contacts on one of said buttons, a driving member having a spindle journaled in said buttons, a conducting element having projecting contact members adapted, to bridge said stationary contacts ortoassume a position between the same, said element being loosely journaled on saidspindie, a spring connecting said driving member and said element, means on one of. said buttons'engageableby oneof said contact members to stop the rotation of said element at any of its normal positions under the action of said spring, means on said element and driving member adapted to cooperate directly to release engagement between said element and stop means, operating means pivoted on said spindle, a return spring for said operating means, and ratchet connecting means between said operating means and said driving means.

13. In a snap switch, in combination, a pairof parallel spaced insulation buttons, a pair of spaced stationary contacts on the inner face of one of said buttons, a circle of ratchet teeth on said button'between said contacts, a driving member having a spindle journaled at its ends in said buttons, a conducting element having projecting contact members adapted to at times engage with said stationary contacts and at times assume a position between said stationary contacts, said element being loosely journaled'on said spindle, a spring connecting said element and driving member, a pawl on said element adapted to consecutively engage said ratchet teeth to stop the rotation of said element at any of its normal positions under the action of said spring, a bent upportion on said element opposite said pawl, means on said driving member adapted to ride onto said bent up portion to pawl and ratchet teeth to allow the spring to drive the element to the next tooth and move the bent up portion from beneath said means onsaid driving member, and means to rotate said driving member.

14. In a snap switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a movable contact member pivoted near said stationary contact and adapted to be rotated into and out of engagement therewith, means to hold said member in engagement with said contact, and means to tilt said member to release said holding means.

15. In a snap switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a movable contact member pivoted near said stationary contact and adapted to be rotated into and out of engagerelease engagement between said ment therewith, means to hold said member in engagement with said contact, means to bias said member toward disengagement," and means to tilt said member to release said holding means.

16. A driving member for the movable contact of a snap switch comprising a spindle adapted to be pivoted in the switch base, a pair of oppositely disposed radial projections on said spindle having sharp edges for engagement by driving means and an operating portion on one of said radial projections having asnriace adapted to engage and cause the release of said contact.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

HARRY J MOREY. 

